North Carolina linebacker Tyler Thompson plans to enter the NCAA transfer portal

North Carolina linebacker Tyler Thompson plans to enter the NCAA transfer portal, according to a report from On3’s Hayes Fawcett. He has spent the past three seasons with the Tar Heels.

Thompson has played in 27 games over the last two seasons, seeing significant time in each of the last two years after playing sparingly and redshirting as a true freshman. His production has steadily improved in that time.

This season, Tyler Thompson recorded 26 tackles, 7.5 tackles for a loss, 7.0 sacks, two forced fumbles and a pass defended. That was his most productive season by far.

During his first two years, Thompson recorded a combined seven tackles, 1.0 tackles for a loss and a fumble recovery. Still, the progression was clear and it was obvious Thompson was bound to have a bigger role in the near future.

Prior to enrolling at North Carolina, Tyler Thompson was ranked as a four-star prospect and the No. 320 overall prospect in the nation, according to the On3 Consensus. He also checked in as the No. 32 EDGE prospect in the class and the No. 11 overall player from the state of North Carolina, hailing from Cary (NC) Panther Creek.

Tyler Thompson not the only departure

Unfortunately for North Carolina, Tyler Thompson is not the only player to announce his potential departure from the program via the transfer portal. He’s not even the only defensive player to do so.

North Carolina defensive back Malcolm Ziglar is planning to enter the NCAA Ttansfer portal, per On3’s Pete Nakos. He’s spent the past two seasons in Chapel Hill.

Over that time, Ziglar has seen the field sparingly. All in all, the defender has amassed 12 total tackles and one interception over the course of the 2024 and 2025 seasons.

Ziglar played high school football at Fuquay-Varina (Fuquay Varina, NC), where he was a four-star prospect. He was the No. 163 overall recruit in the 2024 cycle, according to the Rivals Industry Ranking, a weighted algorithm that complies all major recruiting media services.

Wherever Ziglar ends up in 2026, he’ll be hoping to carve out a more sizable role on defense. He’ll have his suitors, and whichever team he chooses will be thankful he does so. The same is likely true for Tyler Thompson.

On3’s Steve Samra also contributed to this report.